Articulate railway vehicle stabilizing linkage apparatus

Claim 2

Linkage apparatus for stabilizing an articulated wheeled vehicle provided with a joint between a first and a second car of the articulated vehicle with a support structure mounted between said cars, said linkage apparatus comprising: a first linkage member pivotally connected to said support structure; first and second laterally rigid arm means attached to said first and second cars, respectively; a second linkage member being pivotally connected to said first linkage member at a first pivot point and to said first laterally rigid arm means at a second pivot point and means connecting said second linkage member to said support structure for lateral movement with respect to said support structure; and a third linkage member pivotally connected to said first linkage member at a third pivot point and to said laterally rigid arm means at a fourth pivot point and means connecting said third linkage member to said support structure for lateral movement with respect to said support structure.

Claim 3

Linkage apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said connecting means connecting said second and third linkage members to said support structure comprise slide means.

Claim 4

Linkage apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said connecting means connecting said second and third linkage members to said support structure comprise linkage members pivotally connected to said second and third linkage members, respectively, and to said support structure.

Claim 5

Linkage apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second laterally rigid arm means is comprised of a first and second member attached at one end to said car at points spaced in the lateral direction and being connected together at their other ends.

Claim 6

Linkage apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second laterally rigid arm means are comprised of first and second members attached at one end to said first and second cars, respectively, at points spaced in the lateral direction and being connected together at their other ends.

Claim 7

A sway brace linkage for stabilizing an articulated rail vehicle comprising a first and a second car, a common truck supporting the juxtaposed ends of said cars, a support structure mounted on said truck and extending upward between said cars, said sway brace linkage comprising: a first linkage member pivotally mounted at its center point to the center point of the support structure for rotational movement in a substantially horizontal plane; first and second laterally rigid arm means attached to said first and second cars, respectively; a second linkage member being pivotally connected to said first linkage member at a first pivot point and to said first laterally rigid arm means at a second pivot point, said distance between said first and second pivot points being equal to the distance between said first pivot point and said center point of said first linkage member, connecting means for connecting said second linkage member to said support structure for lateral movement in a substantially horizontal plane; and a third linkage member being pivotally connected to said first linkage member at a third pivot point and to said second laterally rigid arm means at a fourth pivot point, said distance between said third and fourth pivot points being equal to the distance between said third pivot point and said center point of said first linkage member, connecting means for connecting said third linkage member to said support structure for lateral movement in a substantially horizontal plane.

Claim 8

A sway brace linkage for stabilizing an articulated rail vehicle comprising a first and a second car, a common truck supporting the juxtaposed ends of said cars, a support structure mounted on said truck and extending upward between said cars, said sway brace linkage comprising: a first linkage member pivotally mounted at its center point to the center point of the support structure for rotational movement in a substantially horizontal plane; first and second laterally rigid arm means attached to said first and second cars, respectively; a second linkage member being pivotally connected to said first linkage member at a first pivot point and to said first laterally rigid arm means at a second pivot point, said distance between said first and second pivot points being equal to the distance between said first pivot point and said center point of said first linkage member, connecting means for connecting said second linkage member to said support structure for lateral movement in a substantially horizontal plane; and a third linkage member being pivotally connected to said first linkage member at a third pivot point and to said second laterally rigid arm means at a fourth pivot point, said distance between said third and fourth pivot points being equal to the distance between said third pivot point and said center point of said first linkage member, connecting means for connecting said third linkage member to said support structure for lateral movement in a substantially horizontal plane.

Claim 9

Sway brace linkage as recited in claim 6 wherein said connecting means connecting said second and third linkage members to said support structure comprise slide means.

Claim 10

Sway brace linkage as recited in claim 6 wherein said connecting means connecting said second and third linkage members to said support structure comprise linkage members pivotally connected to said second and third linkage members, respectively, and to said support structure.

Claim 11

Sway brace linkage as recited in claim 6 wherein at least one of said first and second laterally rigid arm means is comprised of a first and second member attached at one end to one of said cars at points spaced in the lateral direction and being connected together at their other ends.

Claim 12

Sway brace linkage as recited in claim 6 wherein said first and second laterally rigid arm means are comprised of first and second members attached at one end to said first and second cars, respectively, at points spaced in the lateral direction and being connected together at their other ends.